Method and apparatus for removing interlocking elements from slide fastener chain

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for removing interlocking fastener elements from a slide fastener chain at predetermined intervals so as to provide alternate element-free and element-containing sections, the element-free or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;space&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; sections being utilized for the assembling on the fastener chain of sliders and end stops. Gripping means are provided in the apparatus for gripping the base portions of interlocking element in each element row and retaining a length of elements in position for removal first of the coupling head portions of the elements. Thereafter, said gripping means are retracted sidewise or outwardly of the fastener chain, taking with them the remaining debris of elements off the chain.

United States Patent Fukuroi 1 May 28, 1974 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR 3,391,441 7/1968 Carlilc 83/921 REMOVING INTERLOCKNG ELEMENTS3,456,328 7/1969 wasko 83/921 3,490,133 l/1970 Glmdmeycr et al. 1.83/921 FROM SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN Inventor: Takeo Fukuroi, Uozu, JapanYoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Filed: Nov. 24, 1972 Appl.No.1 309,611

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 14, 1971 Japan 46-101747References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerCharles W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-James R. Duzan [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatusfor removing interlocking fastener elements from a slide fastener chainat predetermined intervals so as to provide alternate elementfree andelement-containing sections, the element-free or space sections beingutilized for the assembling on the fastener chain of sliders and endstops. Gripping means are provided in the apparatus for gripping thebase portions of interlocking element in each element row and retaininga length of elements in position for removal first of the coupling headportions of the elements. Thereafter, said gripping means are retractedsidewise or outwardly of the fastener chain, taking with them theremaining debris of elements off the chain.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW 2 W 3.812.573

SHEEI 1 BF 2 FIG.1 T Es E METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INTERLOCKINGELEMENTS FROM SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to the provision ofa slide fastener stringer which hasend portions devoid of interlocking fastener elements, more particularlyto a method and apparatus for removing fastener elements atpredetermined intervals from a slide fastener chain of substantiallyendless length thereby providing herein alternate element-containing andelement-free sections.

To simpify and facilitate the assembling and finishing of slidefasteners, it is nowadays the common practice of the slide fastenermanufacturers to work on a continuous chain of slide fastener stringerscarrying thereon uninterrupted interengaged rows of interlockingelements rather than on separated individual fastener stringers. It hasbeen the usual practice to provide element-free or space sections in thefasteners chain at predetermined intervals thereon for mounting slidersand end stops and thereafter to cut the chain into individual productlength.

There have been proposed various methods and apparatus to this end forremoving a length of interlocking elements from a slide fastener chain,but none of them have been found completely satisfactory in removing theelements alone from their carrier tapes to which they are firmlysecured. Difficulties have been experienced in cutting the elements offexactly at the coupling heads thereof, and failing this would oftencause damage to the woven or sewn threads or even the tape web. This wasmore critical in the case ofa fastener chain carrying rows of continuousfastener elements in a coil or meandering form having a reinforcing cordinserted between the arm portions'of the elements, where the cord issusceptible to damage in contact with the cutter blades. If the elementswere not cut off completely or at desired position, it would render thesubsequent removal of element debris so much difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With a view to eliminating the abovedifficulties encountered with the conventional methods and apparatus,the present invention has for its object to provide a novel method forremoving a desired length of interlocking fastener elements from acontinuous slide fastener chain without any damage to adjacent woven orsewn threads, reinforcing cords or tape web and an apparatus foreffectively carrying this method into practlce.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel methodand apparatus for removal of a length of fastener elements which ensuresthat the elements to be removed are held in correct position relative tothe path of a cutting or severing means so as to cut them off exactly intheir coupling head portions and further that the removal of theremaining portions or debris of the elements is effected with utmostease, resulting in the provision of clean element-free or space sectionsas desired on the fastener chain.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear clearfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompnaying drawings which illustrate by way of example a preferredembodiment and in which like reference characters refer to like partsthrough the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, there is provided a methodfor removing fastener elements from a slide fastener chain consisting ofa pair of stringer tapes carrying thereon uninterrupted rows ofcontinuous fastener elements in interlocked relation each of whichelements having a coupling head and a base portion merging intoadjoining element, which method comprises the steps of positioning alength of interlocked elements with their coupling heads registered withthe path of a cutting means; gripping the base portions of said elementsin each row to restrict free movement thereof; severing the interengagedcoupling heads; and pulling said base portions while being gripped,outwardly apart from their respective stringer tapes to remove theremaining debris of elements thereby leaving thereat an element-freesection.

Referring now to the drawings and FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown asegment of a slide fastener chain F which consists of a pair of opposedstringer tapes T carrying along their respective inner edges a row ofinterlocking fastener elements E. More specifically, the fastener chainF is provided with a predetermined length L of an element-free or spacesections alternating with an element-containing section Es. Thiselement-free section is utilized for the assembling of a slider and endstops (top and bottom stops) on the fastener chain F in the knownmanner.

The provision of the element-free or space section S is effected by theapparatus which is shown by way of example only in the drawings andwhich is tailored to arry the bove described method into practice. Theelement removal apparatus generally designated 10 comprises a stationaryanvil 11 having a die groove 12 and a vertically reciprocating punchhead 13 having a downwardly projecting punch 14 which constitutes withthe die grove 12 a coacting die cutter for severing the coupling headsEa of the fastener elements E. The anvil 11 has seats lla on oppositesides of the die groove 12 for resting thereon the arm portions Ec ofthe elements as shown. The apparatus 10 further comprises first or malegripper means 15 and second or female gripper means 16 on opposite sidesof the anvil 11.

The male grippers 15 have gripping jaws 15a formed longitudinally oftheir respective inner edges and further have downwardly inclinedsurfaces 15b merging into the jaws 15a. The inclined surfaces 15b areutilized to lift the stringer tapes T thereon away from the rows ofelements E so as to permit the gripping jaws 15a to reach and grip thebase or connecting portions Eb of the elements E. The female grippers 16are each provided in the longitudinal edge therof with an elongaterecess 16a for receiving the base portions Eb and retaining the same inposition during the gripping action of the male gripper means 15.

The method for providing the space sections in the fastener chain Faccording to the invention will now be described more fully inconjunction with the operation of the foregoing apparatus 10. Thefastener chain F is positioned on the apparatus with its rows ofelements E seated on the anvil l1 and with its stringer tapes T liftedupwardly away from the elementsE as shown in FIG. 2. This is the firstoperating phase of the apparatus 10 wherein the elements E asinterengaged are laid flat on the anvil 11, more specifically with theirarm portions Ec borne against the seats 11a, with their coupling headsEa exposed in the opening of the die groove 12 and with their baseportions Eh projecting beyond the seats 11a and received in the recesses16a of the female grippers 16. This is followed by the second operatingphase, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the male grippers 15 have descendedand gripped the elements E at their base portions Eb in cooperation withthe female grippers 16. With the rows of elements E thus firmly grippedand stably retained in position, the punch 14 begins to descend and'cuts the coupling heads Ea alone as it thrusts through the die groove12 as shown in FIG. 4, which constitutes the third operating phase.After the coupling heads Eahave been thus cut off, the remaining debrisincluding arm and base portions of the elements E are now removed fromthe fastener chain F in the fourth or final operating phase wherein themale and female grippers 15, 16 still gripping the base portions Ebbegin to retract sidewise away from the anvil 11 taking with them theresidual element debris apart from the reinforcing cord 18 and weavingthreads 19 which have secured the elements E to the tapes T. The punch14 will then ascent, leaving a space section such as shown in FIG. 1,which section presents a clean, undamagedelement-free tape portionsuitable for smooth assembling of the various fastener parts.

While the invention has been described as to a preferred embodiment, itwill-be understood that various changes, substitutions or modificationsmay be made in the specific form and construction herein advanced,without departing from the scope of the appended slide fastener chainhaving a pair of stringer tapes car-' an anvil having a die grooveoperatively associated with I claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A method for removing fastener elements from arying thereon uninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements ininterlocked relation each of which elements having a couping head and abase portion merging into an adjoining element, which method comprisesthe steps of positioning a length of interlocked elements with theircoupling heads registered with the path of a cutting means; gripping thebase portions of said elements in each row to restrict free movementthereof; severing the interengaged coupling heads from the remainder oftheir respective fastener elements; and moving said gripped baseportions laterally away from the line of fastener element engagement topull free from their respective stringer tapes the remainder of thosefastener. elements from which the coupling heads have been severedthereby leaving thereat an element-free section.

l 2. An apparatus-for removing fastener elements from a slide fastenerchain having a pair of stringer tapes carrying thereon uninterruptedrows of continuous fastener elements in interlocked relation each ofwhich elements having a coupling head and a base portion merging into anadjoining element, which apparatus comprises a vertically reciprocatingpunching means,

said punching means for severing the coupling heads of the elements fromthe remainder thereof, and gripping means operable to grip the baseportions of said elements, said gripping means being moveable laterallymovement to grip said base portions, and capable of movement in unisonwhile gripping said base portions to pull free from the stringer tapesthe remainder of those fastener elements from which the coupling headshave been severed.

1. A method for removing fastener elements from a slide fastener chainhaving a pair of stringer tapes carrying thereon uninterrupted rows ofcontinuous fastener elements in interlocked relation each of whichelements having a couping head and a base portion merging into anadjoining element, which method comprises the steps of positioning alength of interlocked elements with their coupling heads registered withthe path of a cutting means; gripping the base portions of said elementsin each row to restrict free movement thereof; severing the interengagedcoupling heads from the remainder of their respective fastener elements;and moving said gripped base portions laterally away from the line offastener element engagement to pull free from their respective stringertapes the remainder of those fastener elements from which the couplingheads have been severed thereby leaving thereat an element-free section.2. An apparatus for removing fastener elements from a slide fastenerchain having a pair of stringer tapes carrying thereon uninterruptedrows of continuous fastener elements in interlocked relation each ofwhich elements having a coupling head and a base portion merging into anadjoining element, which apparatus comprises a vertically reciprocatingpunching means, an anvil having a die groove operatively associated withsaid punching means for severing the coupling heads of the elements fromthe remainder thereof, and gripping means operable to grip the baseportions of said elements, said gripping means being moveable laterallyaway from the line of fastener element engagement to pull free fromtheir respective stringer tapes the remainder of those fastener elementsfrom which The coupling heads have been severed.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 2 wherein said gripping means includes for each rowof fastener elements, a pair of gripper members capable of relativemovement to grip said base portions, and capable of movement in unisonwhile gripping said base portions to pull free from the stringer tapesthe remainder of those fastener elements from which the coupling headshave been severed.